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Lawyers with Disabilities have expressed dissatisfaction against the continued discrimination towards them thereby calling on all stakeholders to treat everyone with physical disability same as those without disability.
The lawyers under the aegis of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA) lawyers with Disabilities Forum, however decried the ill- treatment during a one day summit held in Asaba, Delta State on Tuesday with the title:” The Criminality of Disability Discrimination:” Evaluating the Preparedness of law Enforcement Agencies and Relevant Stakeholders”
According to the Chairperson, Ashia Ahmad El- Rufai, the essence of the Summit was to explore the law as it affects people with disabilities, adding that efforts were geared towards ensuring that the Nigerian Bar Association NBA continues to take into Consideration members that have one Challenge or the other, noting that the NBA President, Yakubu Choname of the Forum, had severally addressed to the discriminating act of persons against lawyers with disabilities. She said” The current president of the NBA, is not happy and I will call on the Nigerian Bar Association at the next NEC meeting to bring up the issue of Changing the name from Lawyers with Disabilities Forum”
Keynote speaker at the event, Maiz Adam Osigwe ( SAN) represented by Oyinka Badejo, noted that the disabled should be granted the same access as the abled adding that” The need for egalitarian society where everyone regardless of the society standing or physical appearance has access to everything without being subjected to any form of discrimination. This disability may be blindness, deafness and even loss of an essential body part , and this has necessitated the need for a legal system that guarantees freedom from discrimination for these individuals with special needs”
She added that the Section 1of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities ( Prohibition) Act, expands the rights of the persons with disabilities, noting that abusers will be penalized according to the Act. Also Speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, represented by Richard Ishiguzo, said that whatever he the request of the forum, it will be made available, adding that reported cases will be attended to at no cost. In a panel of discussion, the Panelists highlighted ares which the government has structured their framework to accommodate persons with disabilities including the Provision of elevators to aid movement to office, allocation of 5percent , allocation of 5percent employment offer for individuals with special needs, among others